Swimming device



Oct. 9 1923.

1,470,437 A. GARDELIS SWIMMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1921 v x5 LW CiINVENTOR M o i BY M; w;'mss:

ATTORNEY I Patented Get. 9, 1923.

ITED STATES AUGUST GARDELIS, F PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

Application filed January 14, 1921. Serial No. 437,245.

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS GARnELIs,

citizen of Greece, residing at Princeton, in

the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Swimmin Devices, of which the following is aspecincation.

This invention relates to improvements in swimming devices and has foran object the provision of a shoe which may be worn by the swimmer toincrease the pressure against the water during the backward movement ofthe feet.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character havingbuoyant means for overcoming the weight of said device, so thattheswimmer will not be handicapped by any additional weight.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character whichincludes folding wings, provision being made for limiting the movementof the wings in one direction, so as to insure their proper operation.

Other objects and advantages of the in- 25 vention will appear as thefollowing description is read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings 1- tion.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation showing, the.

wings at the limit of their closing position.

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary view showing the uings retained inelevatedposition so as to permit the wearer to walk.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like characters ofreferoncedenote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates a' shoeof any suitable or desired character. It is preferred however, to makethe shoe in the form shown and to provide the same with means forsecuring the shoe to the ankle of the swimmer, such means beingindicated at 11.

The sole of the shoe is indicated at 12 and is of buoyant character, thepurpose being to provide sufficient buoyancy to overcome the weight ofthe remainder of the device. For this purpose, the sole 12 is relativelyFig. 1 is a view showing the invention in thick and hollow to provide anair compartment 13. Hingedly secured to the bottom of the sole as shownat 14, are wings 15. These wings are formed of thin light metal, such asaluminum and their inner edges are hinged to the sole 12 in transversespaced relation so asto provide room for an extension 16. This extensionis disposed longitudinally of the sole between the wings and separatesthe latter, the opposite walls of the said extension being formed toprovide inclined stop shoulders 17, the purpose of which is to preventthe wings from contacting at the end of the forward stroke of theswimmer and to insure their positive opening during the backward stroke.

In order that the wearer of the device .may walk upon the groundwithout'removing the shoes, there is provided means for holding thewings elevatedor in openposition so as to raise them above the surfaceof the ground. This means consists in providing hooks 18 upon oppositesides of the shoe 10, for engagement with eyes 19 carried by each of thewings. As illustrated in Figure 4:, the wings may thus be raised so asto space them above the surface of the ground and permit of the wearerof the shoes to walk upon the extension which 'sep arates the wings.

It is believed that when the foregoing.

description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, theconstruction, operation and advantages of the invention will beapparent.

The right is herein reserved to make such changes in the formproportions and minor details of construction of the invention thatproperly fall within the scope of the apone of their edges at thejuncture of the shoe and extension.

2. A swimming device comprising a shoe, wings having their inner edgeshingedly 6 secured to the 'sel'e ofthe shoe-an extension carried by thesole and located between the wings to limit their movement toward oneanother, eyes carried by the Wings and hooks secured to the sidesof theshoe and remova bly engaging said eyes to hold the 10 wings againstmovement.

In testimony whereof I efii'x my signature.

AUGUST GARDELIS

